Our Story & Team

Our Story

“Like most adventures, our story began not with five beers, but with a bowl of pasta, tons of laws being broken and a desire for freedom and a better life.

Like you, we were trapped indoors during the great Covid lockdowns. Gone was the freedom to visit friends and family. Gone was our ability to travel and work on our laptops from anywhere in the world. Life’s greatest treasures were now exchanged for endless streaming (remember ‘Tiger King?!) and learning how to bake sourdough. The only human interaction was waving to the Amazon delivery guy once a week. It was wild!

Like most animals, you can’t keep entrepreneurs caged for long. Under the cover of darkness, Tony escaped from his house, climbed up to the roof, and parkour’d across several buildings before breaking into my apartment. Over a bowl of pasta, Tony shared his idea. He wanted to go on an adventure. He wanted to convert a Mercedes Sprinter van, pack it with the latest technology so that he could work from anywhere, and ensure the van also had all the creature comforts for life on the road. Oh and he wanted to get a dog!

I had spent 6 months holed up in an apartment unable to get back to see family in South Africa or run my annual African adventure The Put Foot Rally for hundreds of people across sub-saharan Africa. My only outlet was spending hours each day tearing down a vintage 1972 Ford Capri and my nights hunting for parts all over the internet.

It’s fair to say Tony and I shared the same spirit. Never again would we be constrained to a building, or unable to travel, or be held back from spending quality time with friends and family.

So the question became – could we build one van? Or could we build a van company that has a place in this new, post-covid world? A van company that shares and promotes the values that we’ve all learned to reprioritize since the pandemic, like a healthy work / life balance.

And could we build vans for the new faces of the Vanlife Movement? The solo travelers, entrepreneurs, working professionals, families, outdoor enthusiasts, urbanite campers, the soon-to-be retired, and retirees?

And perhaps most importantly, could we build futuristic vans that provided folks with the opportunity at a truly unparalleled : WORK – PLAY – TRAVEL lifestyle?

It was an easy decision.”

Daryn Hillhouse, Co-Founder

MEET THE TEAM

This is our ever-expanding, all-star team of amazing men and women! Whether it be skilled trades, or degrees, MBAs or PHDs in design, marketing, sales, and common sense, every one of our professionals plays a vital role in building the highest quality vans in America. Each individual with their unique passions, whether it be building their own vans, hiking, skateboarding, boating, snow skiing, cooking, puzzles or video games helps keep Remote Vans a wildly interesting and fun place to work and build a career.

Co-Founders

Tony Alexander

CO-FOUNDER & CEO

Tony has founded or co-founded multiple tech companies, including one of the world’s leading online travel registries. He also serves on the board of one of the nation’s top startup accelerator programs, which he ran as Executive Director for several years. Tony has traveled extensively around the world, including circumnavigating the globe without airplanes—all while running multiple businesses from the road.

Daryn Hillhouse

CO-FOUNDER & COO

Daryn founded the largest road rally in Africa, as well as other adventure travel-focused brands—one of which outfitted vehicles that were essentially early prototypes of Remote Vans. Having served in the British Army focused on Operations & Logistics during tours in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan, Daryn has worked remotely around the world and managed defense contracts and bids worth more than $1B.

Mission Control

Matt Chandler

Chief Strategy Officer

Matt has been involved with Remote Vans as both an investor and advisor since its inception. Over his career, he has scaled and sold a manufacturing business, integrating it into a publicly traded company, and served as a tech-company CEO, startup cofounder, and managing director of a creative agency. Matt has advised multiple Fortune 500 companies on launching new products, and consulted with dozens of other businesses. A passionate traveler, Matt enjoys exploring overseas destinations and the open roads of the United States with his family.

Robyn Hobson

Chief Marketing Officer

With 16 years of experience and an MBA, Robyn is an award-winning marketer who has worked with the largest retail, telecommunications and banking brands in Africa. Growing up in South Africa has given her a deep appreciation for the great outdoors. Her fondest memories are road-tripping with family to Plettenberg Bay, the Baviaanskloof, the West Coast and Namibia. She believes that all families should make the time to jump in a vehicle and go on an adventure together. Her bucket list trip is Going-to-the-Sun Road, MT.

Galen Benton-Neylon

Operation & Finance Manager

With a master’s in Finance and extensive experience in Operations, Galen brings a unique ability to bridge the gap between finance and operational efficiency. With over 8 years of experience, his expertise has empowered teams to create smoother workflows and strategic alignment across departments. Galen has explored most of the Texas Hill Country’s rivers and streams. He values the convenience adventure vans provide for reaching remote fishing spots. An ideal weekend involves casting lines and discovering new trails in the great outdoors.

Mo Malone

HR & Office Manager

With a background in the higher education and non-profit sectors, Mo brings 10+ years' experience in human resources and office administration. Passionate about strategic people operations, she has actively worked to foster inclusive and engaging environments throughout her career. Outside of work, Mo’s biggest passions lie in travel and soccer–she’s an avid fan of FC Cincinnati and Liverpool FC. She would love to live the vanlife someday and do a national parks tour with her pup, Fig.

Renée Pu

Design Lead

With expertise in the RV, furniture, and 3D printing industries, Renée brings a focus on reliability and quality to the design team. Passionate about blending form and function, she delivers innovative, user-centered designs. Renée is an avid rock climber and enjoys tackling multi-day hikes, drawing inspiration from nature’s challenges and beauty. These outdoor adventures fuel her creativity and problem-solving skills, bringing a fresh perspective to every design project. Renée strives to create impactful, functional products that meet every adventurer's needs.

Tatiana Williams

Service and Warranty Manager

Tatiana brings a wealth of experience from the events and service industries (ex-Tesla) to Remote Vans. Known for streamlining processes and solving tough service challenges, she ensures every van is road-ready for unforgettable adventures. Tatiana is dedicated to delivering exceptional results and creating strong customer relationships. As a passionate advocate for adventure vans, Tatiana loves helping others embrace the freedom of the road. Outside of the office you'll find her hiking scenic trails or taking road trips across the states with her adventure buddy, Kiwi the Rottie.